Mentors Make A Positive & Lasting Difference In The Lives Of Children

Male Mentors Are In Demand; Other Ways Are Available To Help

BBBS Report

Members of the Owen County Advisory Committee for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana are pictured above and include seated, left to right: Tom Atkinson, Aaron LaGrange, Nancy Deal, and Diane Monroe. Standing: Rodger Samuels, Dave Friedel, and Ed O’Brien. Not available for the photo: Dave Allen. (Courtesy Photo)
Our community faces huge challenges – youth violence, drop out rates, poverty, and drug and alcohol abuse. In Owen County, 21.1 percent of children under the age of 18 live in poverty. Many live with someone other than a parent. There are at least 600 single-parent households. Most of these families receive some form of public assistance.

The Owen County Advisory Committee for Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana is working to address these challenges and improve the lives of children in our community one child at a time. The advisory committee is made up of concerned individuals who support the goals and mission of BBBS and want mentoring to thrive in Owen County.

Mentoring unquestionably impacts a child. Study after study shows that children with mentors do better in school, are more confident and get along better with their families, are less likely to engage in violence or abuse drugs and alcohol and are more likely to obtain a college degree.

Mentoring enriches the community. The mentoring relationships formed through Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana help create a strong and enduring foundation for better schools and a more-educated work force. The growth and success of our community is inextricably tied to the children we serve.

Mentoring also enriches the mentor. As the saying goes, we live forever through what we give. Watching a “Little” glow with pride after simply telling him or her “good job” is hard to forget. Helping others is the greatest joy in the world. Nothing in life is more fun — or has a greater return.

When compared with children of similar backgrounds, children with a “Big” are 46 percent less likely to start using illegal drugs; 27 percent less likely to start drinking; and 52 percent less likely to skip school. Mentoring undeniably works.

This is where you come in. We need your help! Despite our best efforts, Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana has children waiting to be matched. There is a greater need for male volunteers. Currently, only 28 percent of our volunteers are men and boys typically wait two or more years to be matched. To help these deserving children, we need more mentors. Mentoring is inexpensive and does not require any special skills.

We have many mentoring programs. You need only a few hours a month to do something fun with a child. Trust us: It will be time well-spent. If you are unable to mentor, there are other ways to help.

For 22 years, we have raised much-needed donations through our signature fund-raising event, Bowl for Kids’ Sake. Slip on those bowling shoes and help raise money to support us. Together we can make our community a better place for all of us to live, work and play.

Join us! Learn more by calling Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Central Indiana at 812-828-9331 or by visiting our Web site at: www.bigsindiana.org.